Stool.



Patented Nov. l9, I90l.

J. c. DILLINGHAM.

STOOL.

lApplication filed June 17, 1901.,

2 Sheets-Sham I.

(No Model.)

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No. 686,716. Patented NovJlQ, I901. J. C. DILLINGHAM.

STOOL.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

2 Shoets--Sheet 2.

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JOSEPH C. 'DIIjLlNGl'IAhI, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

STOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,716, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed June 17, 1901.

T ctZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. DILLINGHAM, of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stools; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in stools, and particularly to the class known as store or counter stools, the object of the invention being to provide a neat and attractive stool which will automatically fold up when not in use against the outside or inner side of counters or in places where space is limited.

With this end in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my invention applied to a store counter, the illustration in full lines representing the stool in its operative position, while the illustration in dotted lines represents the stool in its closed or unused position, Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detailed views. Fig. 6 is a view of a modification. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in elevation, partly in section, of a modification, showing the locking means; and Figs. 9 and 10 are views illustrating a modification of the locking means.

A represents a counter or other piece of store furniture, in front of which and to the floor adjacent thereto is secured abase or supporting plate or bracket 1, having on its upper face a strengthening-rib 2 and an upwardly-projecting tenon 3, which latter is so constructed and arranged as to enterthe bifurcatedlower end of thestool-supporting arm or leg 4 and be secured therein by a pivot-pin or other loose connection 5, whereby said arm or leg is pivotally connected to said base or bracket. To prevent the arm or leg 4 from being swung in a forward direction beyond a predetermined point, I have provided bracket 1 with a shoulder 6, adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder 7, formed on the adjacent face of said leg or arm, and when the lat- Serial No. 64.891. (N0 model.)

ter is moved outwardly to its operative position the shoulders will be brought into contact and prevent further outward movement of the arm or leg 4. The upper end of arm or leg 4 is provided with a tenon 8, adapted to enter the bifurcated lower end of the seatsupporting block 9, the latter being pivotally connected to said tenon by the bolt 10, Whereby said seat-supporting block is free to swing inwardly toward the counter. On the adjacent outer edges of arm 4 and seat-supporting block 9, respectively, are formed the shoulders 11 and 12, which when the seat-supporting block is in a vertical position abut and constitute stops to prevent further outward movement of said block. Instead of having the shoulders formed on the outer faces of the parts, as above explained, and illustrated in Fig. 1, I may put the shoulders on the inner faces, so that the seat will turn outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. This seat-supporting block 9 is provided centrallyin its upper end with a socket 14, which is conical in form at its bottom, as shown at 15, and enlarged at its upper or open end to form an enlarged hearing, as shown at 16. Within this socket 14 revolves the seat-post 17, which latter has a conical lower end adapted to snugly fit Within the conical lower end of said bearin g or socket 14 and is provided at a point below its upper end with an annular flange 18, which rests within the recess or enlarged bearing 16, the said post being locked against vertical displacement by the plate 19, removably secu red to the top of seat-supporting block 9 by screws or other securing means. The seat is secured to a dished triangular-shaped plate 21, which in turn is mounted on the upper end of the seat-post 17 and is held thereon by the nut 22.

The stool above described is of the revolving variety and when not in use is adapted to be folded in close to the counterfront, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and in order to accomplish this end automatically and im mediately upon the removal of weight from the seat I have provided said stool with a pair of springs 23, one of which is adapted to move the arm or1eginward1y,while the other is designed to fold the seat at approximately right angles to said arm or leg. The lower spring 23 may be made of a single piece of suitable spring-wire coiled on opposite sides, the said coils engaging and resting on the projecting ends of pivot-bolt 5,while the end members thereof rest in engagement with the front faces of bracket 1 and arm 4, respectively,and continuously exert pressure thereon in an inward direction. The upper spring may be constructed like the lower one and have its coils supported on the respective ends of bolt or pivot-pin 10, the ends thereof resting in contact and exerting pressure against the front faces of arm 4 and seatsupporting block 9, respectively.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 I have illustrated simple and effective means for locking the seat in a horizontal position when in use. The arrangement disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 for accomplishing this end consists of a sliding rod 24, movably mounted against the outer face of the arm or leg 4 and carrying at its lower end the roller 25, which moves on the inclined face of cam 26, while the opposite end of said rod is adapted to engage the shoulders 27 and 28, formed in the seat-supporting block 9. This seat-supporting block is also provided with shoulder 29 to engage a shoulder 30 on the arm or leg 4 for preventing the seat from tilting rearwardly when in its horizontal position, while the shoulder 28 engages the upper end of sliding rod 24 when the said seat is in its folded or inoperative position. The bracket lis provided with astop 31 for engaging either of the shoulders 32, formed on the lower end of arm orleg 4,whereby the throw of the latter in either direction is limited. The shoulder 27, formed by recessing the curved face of the seat-supportiug block, is engaged by the upper end of the sliding rod 24 and is held thereby against tilting movement when the stool or seat is in its operative position. As theleg of the stool is moved from the vertical or inoperative position to the position shown in Fig. 7 the sliding rod 24: by its engagement with the cam is moved toward the seat-supporting block and is caused by said cam to engage the shoulder 28. With this construction I also employ the springs 23.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the sliding rod 24: is pivotally' connected at its upper end to the seat-supporting block 9, and when the latter is moved so as to bring the seat in a horizontal position it will be apparent that the lower end of said rod 24 will be brought to a position of rest upon the top of the seat 33, and thus lock the said seat-supporting block against lateral movement.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made Without avoiding my invention, and hence I would have it understood thatI do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a store or counter stool, the combination of a base, an arm pivoted at its lower end thereto, means for limiting the outward movement of said arm, a block pivoted to the upper end of said arm, stops for said block, said block having a socket extending downwardly from its upper end, a seat-support, a seat thereon, and a seat-post mounted at its lower end in the socket in said block and removably secured at its upper end to the seatsupport.

2. In a store or counter stool, the combination of a base, an arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base, a seat-supporting block pivoted at its lower end to said arm, a seat mounted to rotate in said supportingblock, and a sliding rod adapted to automatically lock the seat-block in a vertical position when the stool is moved to its operative position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a store or counter stool, the combination of a base having a cam-surface thereon, an arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base, a seat-supporting block pivoted at its lower end to said arm, a shoulder on said block, a seat mounted to rotate in said supporting-block and a sliding rod carried by said arm, one end of said rod being'provided with a roller for engaging the inclined face of the cam while the opposite end thereof is adapted to engage the shoulder on the seatsupporting block for locking the latter in a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH O. DILLINGHAM.

Witnesses:

GUS H. KLINOK, ALEX. M. MOORE. 

